By Lukas Brinkerhoff

December 10, 2007 | LOGAN -- PM 2.5 is in our air at levels that are close to being over the limits set by the EPA. The problem is compounded by the winter cold and weather inversions.

Logan City Councilman-elect Herm Olsen said, "During January, February, and March we have a severe air quality problem." The weather is stagnant and it is not improving. Olsen said if it is left unattended the problem will be out of control. He said this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Randy Martin of Utah State University said, "In the Cache Valley we are on the cusp of becoming non-attainment for PM2.5. That is we are about to exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for that pollutant." Currently Cache Valley has the highest "design value" in the nation, Martin said.

Grant Kofoed from the Bear River Health Department (BRHD) said the fine particles settle in the lungs and cause inflammation. A healthy person is not likely to notice any effects, but asthmatics, children, and the elderly can suffer from the pollution.

"People who suffer from asthma go for their inhalers right away," Kofoed said. The pollution has been linked to breathing ailments and cardiovascular problems.

Martin said, "Our studies have found that our PM2.5 is all ours, it doesn't come in from outside the Cache Valley, and that the PM2.5 is statistically evenly spread throughout the valley."

Twenty-six percent of the pollution is caused by small vehicles, according to Cache County Executive Lynn Lemon. The other major contributors are large vehicles and gas fumes from gas stations lost during fueling. Lemon said newer cars are less polluting and the county would like to implement policies to promote getting rid of older cars. Newer cars burn cleaner and therefore create less pollution.

Lemon said the EPA had recommended not implementing emissions inspections. He said he felt emissions inspections place the burden on those who can least afford it. It is the poor who drive older vehicles that would not pass inspections and they would then be required to install a catalytic converter costing upwards of $800.

This year the BRHD has a marketing campaign to educate people on the benefits of staying inside during red air days, Kofoed said. The emphasis this year is on staying inside to protect your health. Kofoed said most people don't realize that by entering a warm building the PM 2.5 concentration significantly drops. He said the health department was focusing on this new campaign but would still be promoting traveling less miles to help prevent the problem all together.

Olsen, who is a regular bicycle commuter, said he loved the idea of bikes because they are good for the "body political and the body personal." Bikes are a wonderful way to address the situation individually but Olsen said unfortunately there are people who cannot ride bikes and it doesn't address the situation for the entire valley.

"We need to strengthen the culture that it is OK to ride the bus, that it is OK to plan your day around the bus schedule," Olsen said.

Martin said, "Basically we as a population need to recognize that we are all part of the problem and all need to contribute to the solution. Sounds simplistic, corny and unoriginal, but it is truly the path to the solution."

Olsen said people can make differences everyday by planning trips to coordinate with spouse's and children's needs so that one trip can be made instead of three. The community created the problem and now we need to solve the problem as a community.

Olsen said air quality is a complex problem that is going to take some real labor and effort to fix, and if we don't, we, as a community, are consigning our children to an unhealthy future.

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